Barriers to Real Happiness (2)
7. Fear of Worldly Power
Fear of other than Allah. Allah says in the Qur’an: is the cause of humility, insecurity and unhappiness. Whereas, fear of Allah produces in man lofty ideals and drives him to develop sound conduct and excellent moral behaviour. It frees him from all fetters of human bondage and safeguards his dignity and freedom of will. Allah says in the Holy Qur'an:
{إِنَّمَا ذَٰلِكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ فَلَا تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ}
‘Translation’ {It is only the Satan that suggests to you the fear of his votaries: be you not afraid of them, but fear me, if you are true believers} [Al-‘Imran:175].
8. Pessimism
Pessimism is synonymous with misery and trouble. It leads to a stage of inertia and depression. A pessimistic person would hold back from enjoying his normal life or achieving his objectives. Therefore, the Gracious Prophet, Peace and blessings be upon him, promoted and liked optimism but discouraged and disliked pessimism. A pessimist, due to his defeatist tendencies, incurs several troubles and difficulties the effects of which on his nerves are far heavier than dilemmas and disasters.
9. Suspicion
Allah, Glory be to Him, states in the Holy Qur'an:
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ}
‘Translation’ {O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin} [Al-Hujuraat, 49:12]
Prophet Muhammad, Peace be upon him, also says: «» (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim).
How can a suspicious person be happy? And how can a society pervaded by suspicion and mistrust prosper or lead a collective life of happiness.
10. Arrogance
An arrogant person leads a life of misery even though he treats other people rudely and boastfully without due regard to established norms of moral conduct. He oppresses them or turns his cheek in scorn toward them but he is definitely haunted with guilty conscience which makes his life miserable:
{وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ}
‘Translation’ {And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful} [Luqman:18].
Prophet Muhammad, Peace and blessings be upon him, gave his advice in this regard when he said: «» (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim).
11. Devotion to other than Allah
It is a part of man's character to love and hate, but carrying the passions of love and hate to extremes It precarious. Take for example the story of Romeo and Juliet in English Literature or Qays and Layla in Arabic Literature. Qays, who was known in the story as Layla's mad lover, had suffered tremendously from this love until he lost his senses and later died in a wretched piteous state.
When your heart is wholly devoted to your Creator (Allah), your love is holy and you thereby enjoy an elevated emotion which fills your heart with peace and happiness.
This kind of emotion is not in contradiction with love for parents, wife or children. In fact, they are harmonious and complementary. But, extreme emotions, when not controlled by reason or logic, are in fact detrimental to our life and happiness.
12. Alcohol. Drugs and Drug Addiction
Many people imagine that happiness can be attained through alcohol or drug addiction.
Therefore, they resort to drugs escaping thereby from the troubles and worries of life. In fact, they are like one who escapes from a small fire to a hell.
Drugs may throw one, for a short while, into a dreamy illusive world of happiness; but in fact they lead both to disintegration and destruction.
We nowadays witness many examples of such social disintegration and chaos due to the worldwide surge of drug addiction besides other causes related to corruption and the absence of real religious sanctions and sound creed.
Ghalib Ahmad Masri and Nathif Jama Adam
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